Hose supporter



June 14, 1938. J. J. M KELVEY 2,120,414

HOSE SUPPORTER Filed Sept. 26, 1936 Patented June 14, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My purpose is to provide a supporter for short hose of less than knee length, which will eliminate entirely, both the suspension principle and the elastic grip principle commonly used, or as same may be used, on any part of the leg or foot. In other words, my purpose is to free the wearer from the annoyance and injurious effect of an elastic band encircling and compressing the leg, with the risk of interference with the circulation of the blood.

My invention furnishes the support needed to hold the hose in a position upon the leg by a device in the nature of a thin brace or column with its lower end appropriately shaped so as to rest, not on any exterior support, but upon the outward expanding formation of the heel known as Achilles heel, and with its upper end fastened to the top edge of the hose by some appropriate device, preferably the novel device I show in the attached drawing and which is claimed as a feature of my invention. The brace thus applied is intended to become by its form and method of application, in a sense, a component part of the lower leg, and to be independent of the shoes or any other external material substance except the hose which it supports.

My device when in use leaves the leg entirely free from pressure of any sort. the hose is so slight as to exert no appreciable pressure upon the heel, which forms the base for the supporting brace, while the close fit of the hose and its attachment to the supporter at its upper edge easily keeps the supporter in its efiective position Without discomfort.

With the above objects in view my invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination of parts as hereinafter set forth and pointed out as the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, it being understood that they are merely illustrative of one or more examples of the invention. 4 Figure l is a View of the inner side of the device standing upright, showing the saw tooth top to engage the upper edge of the sock.

Figure 2 is a view of the outside of the device standing upright, showing the saw tooth top to 50 engage the upper edge of the sock.

Figure 3 is a view of the device so constructed as to be adjustable in length, also showing a spring clip at the top to engage sock.

Figure 4 is a view of the device, with saw tooth 55 top, covered by the hose but outlined so as to The weight of,

show its position on the leg in serving its purpose as support for the hose covering it.

Figure 5 is a separate view of the special spring fastening device for attaching the top edge of the hose to the upper end of the brace, which 6 special fastening device is claimed as novel and as one of the patentable features of my invention.

Figure 6 is a view of the outside of the lower terminal of the device in place, as designed to be used, showing its relation to the. heel and the 10 ankle.

Figure '7 is a view from the side of the lower terminal of the device in place as designed to be used, showing its relation to the heel and the angle. 15

My device, as a support for the hose, may be made of any material or combination of materials of sufficient stiffness so as to not crumple under the slight weight of the hose and the movement caused by movement of the foot, and of 20 suificient pliability to adapt itself to the curve of the leg from the heel to the point on the half of the leg where the upper edge of the hose is fastened to the support. Such materials as stiff cardboard treated with a non-absorbing fluid, 25 metal, wood, ivory, whalebone, hard rubber, celluloid, or any of the synthetic materials which can be formed by the use of dies or molds into thin semi-rigid pliable strips are suitable for my device. vSuch strips may be slightly padded, or, if adaptable to a perfectly smooth non-irritating finish, the edges may be smoothed and polished, so as to avoid possible chafing where resting against the skin of the heel.

The form of the brace is important in three of its parts:

(1) The base or lower end which rests on the heel.

(2) The upper end to which the top of the hose is fastened.

(3) The intervening strip.

1) The lower end of the brace, to rest comfortably upon the heel and to give no interference with the shoe, should be shaped as shown in Figure 1 (i. c. it should be made in a saddlelike form, with two prongs extending diagonally downward in the shape of an arch, so that the two side pieces, A, A, will find their position on each side of and slightly above the heel in the hollows back of and slightly below the angle and the curved edge between will rest only upon the outward and'inward slope of the heel which serves as a base upon which the brace is designed to rest.

The form, shape and construction of the heel piece of the brace is novel and wholly different and distinct from any device heretofore used or described in any invention designed for use as a hose supporter, in that it is so formed as to retain its arched shape and, resting upon the outward curves of the heel, cannot slip down while held close to the heel by the hose drawn over it.

It will be noted that the two side prongs forming part of the arch are inclined downward and are so constructed as toadapt themselves to the shape of the foot just above the point where the heel begins to enlarge, and that they are therefore wholly different in design and construction from any device heretofore used in which the brace or hose supporter is held against the leg by an elastic band or semi-circular spring around the leg above the ankle or by teeth engaged in the hose, my device being dependent upon the heel alone for its base and requiring no external or auxiliary attachment to hold it in place.

(2) The upper end B may be provided with a device for attaching the top of the hose to it of different types, one of which is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, and is designated as B, consisting of a serrated or saw tooth edge over the sharp points of which, D, the sock is folded.

An alternative device designated as B", and shown in Figures 3 and 5, is formed by means of dies or molds and of material which has sufficient spring quality to keep its original shape against the degree of resistance to which the use subjects it. The fastenerB" is claimed to be novel and wholly diiferent from any device heretofore used in its form of construction and method of use, being designed to hold the hose by pressing the material into the opening into which a section of the fastening device enters when closed by its spring tension.

(3) The part of the support, C, between the lower saddle-like end, designed to rest on the heel, and the upper end formed into a fastener for the upper edge of the hose, is shaped into a narrow strip having sufiicient rigidity to remain upright while at the same time having sufficient pliability to conform to the curve of the leg under the slight pressure which the hose exerts when drawn over it.

Figure 2 is merely to show the outer side of the device and the explanation above made and the letters apply equally to Figure 2, except that the reverse side of the device is illustrated.

Figure 3 shows the device so constructed as to be adaptable to hose of different lengths. Of course the brace may be made of different lengths as desired, but the brace also may be so constructed. as to be adaptable for extension or shortening, as for example by the form of construction shown in Figure 3, which indicates the device shank or strip between the heel piece and the fastener as consisting of two overlapping sections; the one C' engaging with the other C' so firmly as to prevent slipping under normal conditions of use, but which by a moderate amount of pressure, may be pulled out or pushed in, thus providing for a range of several inches in length.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. A hose supporter comprising astiif resilient member having its lower terminal shaped to form downwardly and outwardly arched prongs adapted to engage the heel and having a hose fastening device formed at the top of the member to engage the upper edge of the hose.

2. A hose supporter comprising a stiff resilient member having its lower terminal shaped to form downwardly and outwardly arched prongs to engage the heel and shaped at its upper terminal into a hose fastening device so constructed that the narrowed upper end of the member folds over and forms a curved spring, the convex portion'of which presses the upper edge of the hose into a slot into which it enters under the force of the spring tension.

JOHN JAY McKELVEY. 

